Start with Jira Epics and Add Strategy Items in Loop

This approach is best for users who already have existing work in Jira. We will start by importing our Jira epics into Loop, then add portfolio-level strategic items above them.

What you'll do:

• Import Jira Epics and their child items into Loop

• Review settings; add additional hierarchy and status as needed

• Create a Loop-native Initiative and Feature above the Epics

• Parent the Jira Epics under the Loop-native Feature

Step 1 — Create a New Portfolio Loop

1. If this is your first time using Loop, click Create a Portfolio Loop on the Get Started screen.

2. You can also click Select Portfolio Loop at the top of the navigation panel.

   • Note: If you’ve already created a Portfolio Loop, this box will display the name of the current Portfolio Loop - click it to create a new one.

3. In the Portfolio Loops window, click Start from Scratch.

2. Name the Portfolio Loop (e.g., "Platform Modernization") and click Create.

Step 2 - Connect to Jira

After creating a new Portfolio Loop, you’ll be taken to the Portfolio screen. Since we haven’t added any items yet, it will be empty.

There are two ways to add items to your portfolio: creating new items inside Loop, or importing items from another platform. For the purpose of this tutorial, we’re going to start by importing items from Jira.

Click Import Items. This will launch the Connect Jira Instance wizard. To get started, click Authenticate with Jira.

On the Atlassian page, choose your Jira site from the "Use app on" dropdown. At the bottom of the page, accept the terms.

Next, select the Jira instance you want to connect to from the dropdown list of available Jira instances. Click Next.

Step 3 - Configuring the Jira Integration

Select a Jira Project/Space

Open the dropdown, select the Jira space you want to import items from, then click Next.

Apply Filters

Filters allow you to limit the number of work items imported to the portfolio:

• Use Basic Filter to select items based on Jira field values.

• For more advanced filtering, use a JQL Filter.

Map the Loop Hierarchy Levels with Jira Levels

Tempo Loop organizes your work items into a hierarchy based on your Hierarchy Level settings. The first time a Jira integration is set up, the Jira hierarchy is automatically mapped to the Tempo Loop hierarchy.

On subsequent integrations, you may be asked to map your hierarchy if the Jira project hierarchy differs from the original integration. In this case, you need to select the appropriate level in the Tempo hierarchy for each item type within the Jira space.

In this example, our Tempo item types have the same names as our Jira item types. Don’t worry if you use different names for Tempo or Jira - as long as you map them to the correct level, they’ll be treated the same in both systems.

Map Work Item Types Between Loop and Jira

Select the Loop item type that should be used to represent each item type used in your Jira project.

You can select any Loop item type, as long as it’s at the same hierarchy level. You can also map multiple Jira item types to the same Loop item type.

Map Jira Fields to Loop Fields

• Estimate Field - Select the estimate field used in the Jira space to determine how much work is required to complete a work item.

• Team Field - Select the field used to assign teams to work in the Jira space. The import will identify the Jira or Tempo teams associated with items being imported and import those teams and their members. Note: If you’re importing Tempo Teams, make sure:

  • The Tempo Team visibility is set to everyone, or

  • You have View Team access for that team

• Expected Start Date Field - Loop calculates an expected start date for each task based on dependencies, work estimates, and more. Select a custom Jira field where this information can be sent to Jira.

• Expected Finish Date Field - Loop calculates an expected finish date for each task based on dependencies, work estimates, and more. Select a Jira date field where this information can be sent to Jira.

• Custom Loop Fields - You can import additional field values from Jira and link them to custom Loop fields. To set up custom Loop fields, visit Settings | Custom Fields.

Configure Auto-sync (optional)

To schedule automatic, one-way syncs between Jira and Loop, enable auto-sync, select the sync direction, and choose the sync frequency.

Confirm the Import

The final screen shows how many items were found within the Jira space that matched the information you selected above.

• If you expected more, click Back and check your settings, particularly on the Filters screen.

• If everything looks good, click Launch.

Once the information from Jira has been imported to Loop, you can:

• Add additional Jira spaces to Loop: Go to Settings | Integrations, locate the instance you want to import additional items from, and select +Add Integration.

• Add items in Loop: We’ll walk through this process in Step 6.

Step 4 — Review the Imported Items

Your imported work items will appear on the Portfolio tab. Review the information to make sure all the items you expected have been imported.

• Click any External Key to open the item in Jira.

• Click any item name to open its detail panel in Loop.

Step 5 — Configure Loop Hierarchy

Click Settings in the left navigation panel, then open the Item Types screen.

Review the current item types and hierarchy levels. On this screen, you can:

• Add, remove, or rearrange levels in your Loop hierarchy

• Add or remove item types from a hieararchy level

• Edit Level Names or Item Type names

Let’s add a couple of additional hierarchy levels to handle our higher-level planning items:

1. Click +Add Level of Hierarchy.

2. Name the new level.

3. Drag the level to the appropriate location in the hierarchy.

4. Add item types to the level - click + Item Type.

For this tutorial, we’ve added 2 new levels: Feature and Initiative. You can also edit the icon/color for each new item type.

Step 6 — Review Custom Statuses

In Settings, open the Custom Statuses page to review what was imported. You can:

• Add additional custom statuses.

• Set a default status.

• Edit statuses.

• Remove statuses.

Step 7 — Create a Loop-Native Initiative

Next, we’re going to create our higher-level hierarchy items in Loop.

1. Return to the Portfolio and select +Create Item.

2. In the Create Item panel:

   • Enter a name for the item.

   • Set Item Type to Initiative.

   • Select a Status for the item.

   • Enter additional information as necessary.

   • Click Save & Close.

The new item will be added to the bottom of the Portfolio. You can move it using the drag bars at the left of the item row.

Step 8 — Create a Feature Under the Initiative

1. Hover over the Initiative row to reveal the + button next to the name. Click the + button.

2. Beneath the initiative, a new line will appear:

   • Select Feature as the item type.

   • Enter a name for the new item.

After you hit enter, the Feature will be nested under the Portfolio.

Step 9 — Move Jira Epics Under Their Features

To move Jira epics under their corresponding features:

1. Select the checkboxes next to the epics you want to move. As soon as more than one item is selected, the Bulk Edit bar appears at the top of the table.

2. Select the Parent dropdown in the Bulk Edit bar.

3. Search for and select the parent feature.

Congratulations! You’ve now created your first portfolio using Jira epics and Loop-native initiatives and features.

Next Step

Build your first plan - see Creating Your First Scenario